‘Implement Phulbari agreement fully’

Leaders of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports yesterday urged the government to fully implement the Phulbari contract, which bans open-pit mining, and expel Asia Energy to protect the country's mineral resources.

They also demanded that the cases filed against leaders of the Phulbari movement be withdrawn immediately, reports our Thakurgaon correspondent.

They made these demands at a rally organised by the committee to observe the 15th anniversary of Phulbari Day.

At least three people were killed as law enforcement members cracked down on the protesters of Phulbari coal mine on August 26 in 2006.

Since then, the day has been observed as Phulbari Day.

Professor Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the committee, addressing the rally as chief guest, said, "There was a conspiracy to loot the underground resources from Phulbari Upazila by hiring a so-called international company, Asia Energy.

But they could not, as the people of the area resisted." He urged the people of Phulbari and its surrounding Upazila to stay alert to thwart present and future conspiracies to rob them of their natural resources in the future.

He urged the government to implement the pending six-point demand signed on August 30, 2006, while the Khaleda Zia led BNP government was in power. He also urged the government to take the initiative to expel Asia Energy from Bangladesh.

Joy Prakash Gupta, member secretary of the committee of Phulbari Upazila, Samsul Alam General Secretary (central) of Samajtantrik Mojdur Party, Aminul Islam, former Upazila chairman of Phulbari Upazila and SM Nuruzzaman, a leader of Phulbari Upazila, were among the speakers.

Locals of Phulbari, under the banner of different social-political organizations, placed flower wreaths at the monument that was built to remember the protestors killed by the law enforcement members on this day.